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Incremental solidification (toward 3D-printing) of magnetically-confined metal-powder by localized microwave heating

Mihael Fugenfirov (Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel)
Yehuda Meir (Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel)
Amir Shelef (Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel)
Yuri Nerovny (Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel)
Eli Aharoni (Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel)
Eli Jerby (Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel)

COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering

ISSN: 0332-1649

Article publication date: 17 August 2018

Issue publication date: 22 November 2018

127

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present an experimental and theoretical study oriented to investigate the potential use of localized microwave-heating (LMH) in 3D-printing and additive-manufacturing (AM) processes.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a previous study by the authors, a magnetic confinement technique is developed here as a non-contact support for the incremental solidification by LMH of small metal-powder batches. This approach, which saves the need for a mechanic support in contact with the powder-batch during the microwave heating, may significantly simplify the LMH–AM process.

Findings

The powder properties are characterized, and a theoretical LMH model is used to simulate the LMH mechanism dominated here by magnetic eddy currents.

Originality/value

The experimental products are analyzed, and their hardness, porosity and oxidation are evaluated. Practical considerations and further improvements of the non-contact LMH–AM process are discussed.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This paper forms part of a special section “Microwave Energy Applications (3GCMEA 2016) ”, guest edited by Juan Monzó-Cabrera.

The authors wish to thank Dr Zahava Barkai for the SEM observations and Mr Eli Shemesh for technical assistance. This research was supported in part by The Israel Science Foundation (Grant Nos. 1270/04, 1639/11 and 1896/16).

Citation

Fugenfirov, M., Meir, Y., Shelef, A., Nerovny, Y., Aharoni, E. and Jerby, E. (2018), "Incremental solidification (toward 3D-printing) of magnetically-confined metal-powder by localized microwave heating", COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, Vol. 37 No. 6, pp. 1918-1932. https://doi.org/10.1108/COMPEL-04-2017-0153

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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